India has been traditionally cautious in its dealings with Syria, but in recent months, New Delhi has stepped up its outreach to the Assad government. In February 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in New Delhi, and the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.
A number of factors are driving India’s new outreach to Syria. First, New Delhi is seeking to expand its influence in the Middle East. India has traditionally been a close ally of Iran, but in recent years, New Delhi has been trying to balance its relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia. By engaging with the Assad government, India is hoping to gain a foothold in Syria and increase its influence in the region.
Second, India is concerned about the rise of the Islamic State in Syria. The group has carried out a number of terrorist attacks in India, and New Delhi is worried that the group could pose a threat to its security. By engaging with the Assad government, India is hoping to help stabilize Syria and prevent the spread of the Islamic State.
Third, India is looking for economic opportunities in Syria. The country has a large market of over 20 million people, and New Delhi is hoping to tap into this market. India has already signed a number of trade deals with Syria, and it is looking to expand its economic cooperation with the country.
India’s new outreach to Syria has been met with mixed reactions. Some countries, such as the United States, have criticized India for engaging with the Assad government. Other countries, however, such as Russia and Iran, have applauded India’s efforts.
It remains to be seen how successful India’s new outreach to Syria will be. However, New Delhi is clearly looking to expand its influence in the Middle East, and Syria is a key part of this strategy.
In addition to the factors mentioned above, India’s outreach to Syria is motivated by a desire to help the Syrian people. The civil war has devastated the country, and millions of Syrians have been displaced. India has provided humanitarian assistance to Syria, and it is committed to helping the country rebuild.
India’s new outreach to Syria is a significant development. It shows that New Delhi is willing to engage with countries that are not traditionally seen as allies. This could have implications for India’s foreign policy in the years to come.
It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of India’s outreach to Syria will be. However, it is clear that New Delhi is seeking to expand its influence in the Middle East, and Syria is seen as an important part of that strategy.
Here are some of the reasons why India is increasing its engagement in Syria:
Security concerns: India is concerned about the rise of ISIS in Syria and the potential for the group to spread to other countries in the region. By engaging with the Assad regime, India hopes to help stabilize Syria and prevent ISIS from gaining a foothold.
Economic opportunities: Syria is a resource-rich country, and India is looking to tap into these resources. India is also interested in participating in the reconstruction of Syria, which is expected to be a major undertaking.
Geopolitical influence: India is seeking to increase its influence in the Middle East. By engaging with Syria, India hopes to gain a foothold in the region and play a role in shaping its future.
It is important to note that India’s engagement in Syria is not without risks. The Assad regime is widely unpopular, and there is a risk that India could be seen as being associated with a brutal dictatorship. Additionally, India’s engagement in Syria could damage its relations with the United States and other Western countries.
Despite the risks, India is likely to continue to increase its engagement in Syria in the years to come. Syria is an important country in the Middle East, and India is seeking to play a role in its future.
Here are some additional details about India’s outreach to Syria:
- In May 2022, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Damascus, becoming the first Indian foreign minister to do so since the start of the war.
- During his visit, Jaishankar met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other top government officials.
- Jaishankar said that India’s engagement with Syria is “guided by our national interests.”
- He said that India is “committed to a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict.”
- India has also provided humanitarian assistance to Syria.
- In 2021, India donated $10 million to the United Nations for humanitarian assistance in Syria.
It is still too early to say what the long-term implications of India’s new outreach to Syria will be. However, it is clear that India is seeking to expand its influence in the Middle East by engaging with the Assad government.
